The Premier League footballer under investigation for two alleged rapes has had his bail extended to a date in early January.
It is the Metropolitan police’s latest extension of the player’s bail, which had been due to expire at the end of November. He was originally arrested in July and bailed until early October, extended from an initial date in August, before an application to continue his bail until late November was accepted.
In late July the force confirmed it would take no further action regarding an alleged offence committed by the player in June 2021, but investigations into two further allegations have continued. The player was initially arrested on suspicion of rape against a woman that was alleged to have happened in June this year; he was taken into custody and further arrested on suspicion of two further incidents of rape, which were alleged to have taken place in April 2021 and June 2021 against a different woman.
The player is not being named for legal reasons but has been a regular member of his club’s first team this season. The club confirmed in July that he would not be suspended and that he would be considered for selection until further notice.
The Guardian has previously reported that the player’s club were made aware of a rape allegation against him last autumn. That allegation was reported to the Met in August 2021 but did not appear to affect his status in the team. In March this year the force opened an investigation into that and another alleged rape by the player of the same woman that she had reported in February.